Iwo Jima Research Paper

The U.S believed that the island would be able to be taken in a few weeks time due to the fact that it looked very un-fortified from aerial photos. This, however, was a grave mistake. The Japanese General, Tadamichi Kuribayashi, had built the underground tunnels for the effect of making the island look vulnerable. Knowing that defeat was unavoidable, the General had created the entrenchments to inflict as many casualties as possible on the U.S before they captured the island, and to discourage the U.S from attacking Japan.

he Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the bloodiest and fiercest battles of the Second World War in which the US Armed Forces captured the Iwo Jima Island from the Japanese. More than 6800 American servicemen lost their lives in the battle and thus the battle has come to known as the deadliest battle in Marine Corps history. Iwo Jima was an island strategically positioned and highly fortified as its three airfields were used to stage attacks on the US at the Pacific War. It was therefore Americas target to capture the island and use it to stage attacks on Japans mainland and use the airfields as emergency landing strips for the US Navy planes damaged during war. According to The Washington Post a small group gathered on Thursday February 18th

Slowly but surely the American soldiers made progress and secured some of the airfields because by the beginning of March, two thirds of the island was captured by American soldiers because they had a strong Marine base and were able to push the Japanese back.

General Kuribayashi knew all too well the size of the American force that was arrayed against him and also knew that his defeat was virtually assured. However, being an excellent commander, he could not allow his troops to believe this and made morale a high priority by promising victory. He departed from conventional defensive tactics, which normally would have advocated a concentration of forces on the beach. Instead he chose the high ground and based his operations to a large extent on the highest point on the island, __Mt. Suribachi__. He had miles of tunnels dug inside the mountain, which included big artillery pieces that would fire down on the beach. So ingenious were his preparations that he had large steel doors close each time the gun fired so Marines could not fire on the position.

Run away to the States at fifteen, lied about his age, joined the air force, and sunk three Jap battleships in the Pacific. They were going to make a movie about his life, maybe. After the war Bradley rescued an Arizona millionaire’s beautiful daughter from drowning, married her, and bought a ranch. (Richler, 12.)

In June of 1944, Lieutenant General Kuribayashi arrived on Iwo Jima to find discover a rivalry between the Army and the Navy. By late July, Kuribayashi had evacuated all civilians from the island and sent back officers he considered uncooperative. The civilians and the incorporating officers were no use to him and would only drain the water and food supplies. After these acts were completed, he began his act in building the fortress. Kuribayashi split Iwo Jima into five sectors. He would control the mountain area himself and would be leaving the volcano and its 200 men as an independent command under Colonel Atsuli. Kuribayashi's departure had been normal practice for the Japanese Imperial Army, but he predicted that American air and naval bombardments would destroy any defenses on the beaches.

holes, carry their own weapons, and fight against the enemies. “In fact, the Navajo Marines were involved in every assault in the Pacific that included the Soloman Islands, Tarawa, Saipan and even Iwo Jima. At Iwo Jima there were more than 100 Navajo Code Talkers. Iwo Jima proved to be one of the most pivotal battles in the history of the United States and probably the most important engagement in the Pacific during World War II.” (Kowal) The Navajo Code Talkers were a major turning point during the war, without them the US would have had no ways to communicate movements or secrets. A Major once said that because of the Navajo Code Talkers, the Marines never would have taken Iwo Jima. The Japanese, who were skilled code breakers, could not

Island hopping was the Marine Corps strategy to fight the Japanese during World War 2. It was effect in winning the war. One island, Iwo Jima became one of the most important events that has taken place in American history. One of the most historical battles marines fought during the pacific campaign lead by General Douglas Macarthur.

The boys made heroes were, John “Doc” Bradley, Rene Gagnon, Harlon Block, Franklin Sousley, Mike Strank and Ira Hayes. When the war ended and John Bradley left the island back to his home, he did not want to talk about Iwo Jima, the boys, the war or the raising of the flag. Much less of the circus that was created around the picture that became

The battle of Iwo Jima started off as an amphibious invasion by the Americans; a strong desire for claiming the island to create a base on the land flourishing with the ever-growing American spirit. Three U.S. marine divisions executed a carefully well thought plan during February of 1945. The Japanese were not very well prepared, having roughly 23,000 people defending Iwo Jima, a fifth of how many Americans there were. However, they did have strong beliefs and would refuse to surrender, giving their all to the battle until they died.

The battle for Iwo Jima was a bloody battle against the Japanese forces. The island took the heaviest and longest bombardment compared to any battles in the Pacific during the war ("Battle for Iwo Jima, 1945", 1960). The battle for Iwo Jima started in June of 1944 but the invasion of the island didn't start until February 19,

George completed his basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. He later transferred to Headquarters and Service Company, 2d Battalion, Camp Elliott, San Diego, California, in September 1942. When he arrived he was promoted to private first class and later advanced to corporal.

Japanese forces are closing in on American soldiers. There was word that reinforcements are on the way for the Americans on the island. The rumor was started by the Navy and Marine corps to keep the soldiers fighting, which was a dumb idea because the troops on the island were greatly outnumbered 151 to 3000. The American soldiers fought the Japanese for over 150 days, the reinforcements never came and the americans were captured. This rumor went down as one of the biggest lies in american history.

The island of Iwo Jima is located south of Tokyo and is apart of the Bonin Chain (Kiner and History). It is placed almost exactly halfway between the US Marianas and the Japanese home island. Iwo Jima is a small island that consists of eight square miles. The island is very hilly, rocky, and not fit for the growth of vegetation (Alexander).

When he was old enough he went in to serve. Boot camp was pretty tough, but he wasn’t expecting it to be easy. When Levi went into the war for the first time. He was only frightened for a minute.